LETTER: DesJarlais should represent more than business interests

Congressman, I am writing to you through the news media primarily because you are not accepting of opinions that differ from your own through normal channels.

On Facebook, you delete comments and block people from commenting if they have an opposing perspective. Writing a letter to your office only receives a reply that basically says that you appreciate the letter but will not change your mind.

So, even though I am quite certain that you still will refuse to accept a constituent's perspective, here it is.

I am highly disappointed that you would vote "no" to reopening the federal government.

You contributed to the effort to shut down the federal government that cost over $24 billion in direct costs, to say nothing of the huge amount of indirect costs of lost wages, lost business and other serious financially devastating ramifications of your actions.

There is a more reasonable method of dissension, but when the discussion is over, you should accept that in this country a vote should determine the final decision.

Taking the country hostage is totally irresponsible. You and your fellow congressional members had well over six months to present, discuss and negotiate/compromise a solution, but refused to concede when your minority opinion did not prevail.

If you are not familiar with how a democracy works, then you should certainly not be in Congress.

Now that I have clarified my opinion on your performance, I will move on to some possible solutions to consider. Try taking a look at rolling back a couple of the most major contributors to the financial condition that we are currently in.

I would propose that the military budget be rolled back to what it was before 2000, to a pre-Bush wars level. Also proposing that the revenue be rolled back to what it was before 2000. Those two factors should set this country on a progressive path with a fairly decent surplus in the annual budgets that eventually would significantly decrease the deficit that has accumulated over the past 12 years.

You need to stop obsessing over the pennies and focus on some real potential savings.

You have made it abundantly clear in multiple town hall meetings that you represent the business interests rather than representing the people, but you were elected to represent people, all of the people, and you seriously should start listening to all of the people and not just limiting yourself solely to business supporters.